Ironing apparatus



Oct. 4, 1960 E. E. FOSTER momma APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1957 By 7 wfi/im ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 4, 1960 E. E. FOSTER 9 mourns APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNENTO/P:

ATTORNEYS.

Oct 1%9 E. E. FOSTER IRONING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 2, 1957 A 7' TORNEKS.

Oct. 4, 1960 E. E. FOSTER 7 2,954,619

IRONING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ww flm 3402 9 a ATTORNEYS Oct. 4, 1960 Filed Dec. 2, 1957 E. FOSTER 2,954,619

IRONING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /N l/E N TOR."

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent IRONIN G APPARATUS Edwin E. Foster, Austin, Tex., assignor to Majik-Ironers, Inc., Austin, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Dec. 2, 1957, Ser. No. 700,165

14 Claims. (CI. 38-30) This invention relates to ironing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus of the type employing a hand iron and an ironing board.

For hand ironing in homes, apartments, and the like, it has been customary to use an ironing board supported on foldable legs and a standard iron. For storage, the legs of the board are folded against it and the board and iron have been stored separately in a closet, or the like. This not only requires handling of a hot iron, but involves handling of the board itself which is awkward and heavy. The ironing operation itself is further relatively difficult since the folding leg structure of the board obstructs the undersurface thereof making it necessary to iron in a standing position. i

To improve ironing conditions it has heretofore been proposed to support the iron on a linkage which normally holds it for movement in a horizontal plane above the board and allows it to be moved down on to material on the board for ironing. While this construction is very satisfactory for ironing it does not lend itself easily to storage of the board and iron.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an ironing apparatus which is foldable into very compact size for handling and storage and which may easily be erected to ironing position.

Another object is to provide ironing apparatus in which the board is supported adjacent one end only when in ironing position to be unobstructed throughout the major portion of its length for ironing in either a sitting or standing position.

According to a feature of the invention, the board is hinged centrally of its length to fold to a storing position with the two board sections vertical and adjacent to each other. The board is connected to one of two supporting frames which are movable together and apart to fold between the frames when together or to fold to a horizontal position above the frames when they are separated. The sections of the board are preferably connected through links pivoted to the sections on axes spaced from their adjacent ends so that the sections may be folded without pinching a covering on the board and without the necessity of removing the covering.

A further object is to provide ironing apparatus in which the supporting frames are connected through links to a housing and the iron supporting linkage is carried by the housing to support the iron for horizontal movement over the board and to elevate the iron above the board when not in use.

A still further object is to provide ironing apparatus in which the iron supporting linkage is carried by a support mounted for vertical movement in the housing and latched in a lowered ironing position by a pivoted latch lever which is moved to releasing position by a motor driven cam.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompany.v

mg drawings, in which:

2,954,619 Patented Oct. 4, 1960 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ironing apparatus embodying the invention in erected position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus in folded storage position;

Figures 3 and 4 are end views of the apparatus in folded condition;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the apparatus in erected condition with the ironing board cover removed for clarity;

Figure 6 is a partial view of the table supporting linkage;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the apparatus in erected condition with the ironing board cover and iron supporting linkage removed;

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the apparatus in erected condition;

Figure 9 is a detailed section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a detail section on the line 1010 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a partial section of the housing and supporting frame links;

Figures 12 and 13 are sectional views of the support and operating means for the iron;

Figure 14 is a partial section on the line 1414 of Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a partial vertical section of the housing, iron support and linkage;

Figure 16 is a partial perspective view showing one of the supporting members and the ironing board control arm; and

Figure 17 is a wiring diagram.

The complete apparatus, as best seen in Figures 1 and 5, comprises a housing indicated generally at 10 in which the mechanism for elevating and lowering the iron supporting linkage is mounted. The housing serves also as a part of the supporting framework and for this purpose has connected to its opposite sides a pair of supporting frames 11 and 12, both of which as shown may be formed of tubing or the like for light weight and adequate strength. The sup'orting frames 11 and 12 are connected to the housing 10 through lower links 13 and 14 pivoted to the supporting frames and the housing and upper links 15 and 16 generally parallel to the links 13 and 14 respectively and pivoted to the suppoiting frames of the housing. The lower links are preferably slightly longer than the housing, as seen in Figures 3 and 4.

The supporting members and housing are adapted to carry an ironing board which is formed in two sections 17 and 18 hingedly connected together at their ends to extend between a horizontal erected position above the supporting frames, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, to a folded stored position between the frames, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The section 17, as partially shown in Figure 7, is formed by a U-shaped framework of pipe or the like having a rigid top cover of aluminum sheet or the like mounted thereon over which a conventional ironing board cover, as shown at 19 in Figure 1, may be placed. The section 18 is similarly formed, but as seen in Figure 2 is provided with a foldable corner section 21 which can be folded beneath the remainder of the section to provide a relatively narrow point on the board, as more particularly described and claimed in my Patent No. 2,729,005. In the folded position of the apparatus, the

as shown in the drawings, but when the board is erected this section can be folded under the remainder of the section 18 in the manner described in said patent.

,To connect the two ironing board sections together for pivoting between the ironining and storage positions without interference with the cover, a pair of links 22 are provided, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5, which are pivoted to the ironing board sections on parallel axes spaced from the ends of the sections. The links 22 may be providedwith a central cross-connected piece, as shown at 23 in Figure 7, and with triangular corner. plates 24 which will engage the upper surfaces of the ironing board sections to limit folding thereof in the erected position to a straight-planar surface. A conventional ironing board cover 19 may be mounted overthesections and over the links 22 so that when the board is in its ironing position, the cover will be stretched continuously over thesections. When the board is folded, as best seen in Figure 4, the cover will extend over the links 22 and over the edges of the sections above the pivotal connections thereof to the links, with the links providing adequate space between the sections for folding thereof without pinching the cover. When folded the board sections may be held together by a clip, as shown at 25.

To cause the board to fold with movement of the supporting frames, the outer end of the section 17 is connected to an arm 26 pivoted on a cross bar 27 on the frame 12. The arm 26 rigidly carries a tube or rod 17' which is pivoted at its ends to the ends of the U-shaped frame forming a part of the section 17. The arm 26 is interconnected with the arm 16 of the supporting links for the supporting frame 12 so that when the frame is moved toward and away from the housing the ironing board section 17 will be extended above the supporting frame or will be folded vertically closely adjacent to the supporting frame, as seen in Figure 4. When the board is erected, it is further braced and supported by a plate 28 secured to the undersur face of the board section 17 and having a hook 29 at its lower end to hook into an opening 31 in the upper cross member of the frame 12. In this way, when the board is in ironing position it is supported at the upper end of the frame 12 near one end of the erected board and by the arm 26 near the center of the board with the remaining part of the board consisting of the entire section 18 freely supported as a canti-lever. Furthermore, the supporting frame 11 slopes beneath the board, as shown in Figures 2 and 8, so that it does not interfere in any way with the space beneath the board. In this way, the end of the board is free for slipping tubular articles over it and the space beneath the board is almost entirely unobstructed so that an operator can conveniently iron from a sitting position beside the board with plenty of leg room for comfort. It will be noted in this connection that the board lies entirely beside the housing 10, as seen in Figures 7 and 8, so that it can fold in front of the housing and so that the housing will not interfere with the space beneath the board during ironing. The upper part of the housing and the tops of the supporting frames preferably receive a foldable shelf element 32 consisting of three sections hinged together at 33 and 34 to provide a shelf back of the ironing board for receiving overhanging portions of material being ironed. The shelf may be covered with a cloth cover if desired and may remain in place during folding of the apparatus without in any way interfering with folding of the board itself or movement of the supporting frames. In order to cause simultaneous movement of the supporting frames between the ironing and storage positions and to hold the apparatus in its erected ironing position, the links and 16 are connected for simultaneous swinging movement. As best seen in Figure 11, this is accomplished by connecting the links 15 and 16 within the housing 10 to intermeshing gear segments 35 and 36. Due to the operation of the gear segments both links will simultaneously swing downward to move the supporting frames in toward the housing and will simultaneously swing upward to move the supporting frames away from the housing. It will be noted that turning of the link 16 will swing the arm 4. 26 to cause the board to fold automatically to its storage position when the supporting frames move toward the housing or to its upper ironing position when the supporting frames move away from the housing.

In order to hold the apparatus in its erected position, latch means are provided in the housing acting on the gear segments. As shown, the latch means comprises a straight bar 37 lying adjacent to the rear side of the housing and urged thereagainst by a spring 38. A button 39 projecting through the rear wall of the housing engages the bar 37 and can be depressed to swing the bar outward out of alignment with the gear segments 35 and 36. When the housing is elevated and the supporting frames are moved out, as shown in Figure 11, the bar 37 will snap in beneath the gear segments'due to the spring 38 and will hold'the gear segments against turning thereby latching the apparatus in its erected position. When it is desired to fold the apparatus to its storage position, the button 39 may be depressed to release the latch b ar and allow the segments to turn in the housing. Preferably spring means are provided to counterbalance the weight of the apparatus so that it can be erected more easily. As shown, such means may take the form of a coil spring 41 coiled on a hub 42 in the housing and extending outward therefrom and connected to the cross member 27 of the frame 12. The spring 41 may be of the type more particularly described and claimed in my patent No. 2,609,193 ,to exert a substantially constant tension be tween the lower part of the housing 10 and the cross bar 27 on the frame 12 tending to pull the housing up. By properly selecting the strength of the spring the weight of the apparatus may be accurately counterbalanced so that it can be moved between its ironing and storage positions easily and with a minimum of effort.

The apparatus is adapted to be used with a conventional hand iron 43 which may be of either the dry or steam type and which is modified only by inclusion therein of an electric switch operated by a hand lever 44 overlying the normal iron handle. When the lever 44 is engaged by the hand of an operator, the switch, as illustrated at 45 in Figure 17, will be open and when the lever 44 is released the switch 45 will be closed. The iron is carried by an iron supporting linkage which may be constructed as more particularly described and claimed in my Patent No. 2,648,146. This linkage, as shown, comprises a forearm 46 from which the iron is suspended through a universal joint and which is pivoted at its upper end to a main arm 47. The arms 46 and 47 may be of hollow sheet metal for passage of electric cords therethrough. The arm 47 is pivoted at its lower end on a pivotal axis 48 to a support 49 and arms are so connected at the elbow joint between them that when the iron is moved horizontally it will be supported in the same horizontal plane. For this purpose, as more particularly described in my Patent No. 2,648,146, a cam 51 is provided in the main arm 47 and a tension cable 52 extends over the cam and is connected at the elbow joint to-the forearm 46 to control pivotal movement thereof about the elbow joint.

In normal use of the apparatus, the cam 51 is held fixed relative to the support for which purpose the cam is pivoted to the support about the axis 48 and is held against pivotal movement by a latch 52. The latch may be released by a button 53 and when released the arms and iron can be folded to a stored position between the supporting frames, as shown in Figures 2 to 4. Preferably for storage, the main arm 47 and forearm 46 are connected closely adjacent to each other by a latch 54 and the entire assembly is folded about the pivotal axis 48 to a position in which the arms are substantially horizontal and the iron lies between the supporting frames 11 and 12 directly above the housing 10. A service cord extending from the housing 10 and adapted to be plugged into a conventional outlet may be wrapped over reel members on the elbow joint and base joint of the linkage, as shown at 55 in Figure 2, when the apparatus is stored. It

yesaeis will be seen that the supporting linkage folded, as shown, no parts of the apparatus extend above or beyond the supporting frames 11 and 12 so that a very compact assembly is provided. When the apparatus is erected for ironing the supporting linkage may simply be raised to engage the latch 52' at which time the linkage will function in its normal manner, as more fully described in my Patent No. 2,648,146, r p i When the iron is not actually in use it will be supported for movement in a horizontal plane above the level of the ironing board'and maybe moved down on to material on the ironing board for actual ironing. To adjust the vertical position, the support 49 is preferably made adju'stable, as shown in Figure 9, and is also mounted for swinging about a vertical pivot. For this purpose, the support 49 terminates in a cylindrical rod 56 and fitting rotatably in a tubular socket 57 in a vertically shiftable supporting rod 58. The socket 57 .is slidable longitudinally in the supporting rod 58 and is adjustable therein by a nut 59 threaded to the upper end of the socket and engaging the upper end of the supporting rod to shift the socket and support 49 vertically. In this way, the vertical position of the iron may easily be adjusted so that it will be held at the desired distance above the ironing board when it is not in use and may be lowered to material on the ironing board for an ironing operation.

Excessive turning of the supporting linkage and iron may be limited by forming a groove 61 in the socket 57 and providing a pin 62 on the rod 56 turning in the groove and engageable with the ends of the groove to limit swinging of the linkage and iron about the vertical axis.

The supporting rod 58 is mounted for vertical movement as best seen in Figures 12 to 15 to elevate the iron above the board or to lower it onto material on the board for an ironing operation. For this purpose the supporting rod 58 extends vertically into the housing and is pivoted to the free ends of a lower link 63 and an upper link 64 which are pivoted on spaced pivotal axes in the housing and lie parallel to each other. The links guide the supporting rod 58 for parallel vertical movement without any tilting and allow the supporting rod to be raised and lowered a sufficient distance to elevate the iron above the board or to drop it on to material on the board. The supporting rod is normally urged upward by a spring 65 connected to the lower link and to an adjusting screw 66 in the top of the housing by means 88 to regulate the temperature of the iron.

6 which is effective over a sufliciently great range of vertical movement to accommodate anticipated different thicknesses of material on the board.

To release the latch means .an electric motor 76 is provided driving a pair of earns 77 and 78. The cam 77 is adapted to engage a roller 79 carried by the cam lever 69 to swing the cam lever outward against the spring 75 away from the roller 74 when the latch is to be released. The cam 78 controls an operating arm 31 for a switch 82 which is normally open and which is held closed by the cam so that the motor will complete a full cycle each time it is energized. The operating arm 81 is further controlled by a finger 83 connected to the cam lever 69 and engageable with a pin 84 on the operating arm to hold the switch 82 closed when the lever is in it latching position.

The circuit, as shown in Figure 17, includes the leadin lines 85 leading from the plug for connection to a conventional power source with the motor 76 connected across the lines through the switches 82 and 45 in series. The heating element of the iron, as shown at 86, may be connected directly across the circuit through a thermostatic control switch 87 and an adjusting potentiometer When the iron is in its elevated position, as shown in Figure 5, with the operating lever 44 disengaged the switch 45 will be closed. At this time, the parts within the housing will occupy the position shown in Figure l3 with the operating lever 81 elevated as, for example, by a spring 89 connected thereto so that the switch 82 will be open. When the operator depresses the iron for an ironing operation, the supporting rod 58 will be moved downward against the spring 65 during which time the ...,roller 74 will travel across the cam surface 72 into enof which the spring tension can be adjusted. Preferably the lower link 63 is generally of U-shape with a cross rnember 66' pivoted on a horizontal axis 67 in the housing and a pair of arms 63 projecting outward and pivotally connected to a cross piece 68 on which the supporting rod 58 is rigidly mounted. This construction gives the supporting rod angular stability in a direction parallel to the axis of the links 63 and 64 so that it is rigidly held at all times against angular pivoting movement.

To hold the supporting rod in its lowered position during an ironing operation, a cam lever 69 is provided pivoted on a fixed axis 71 in the housing. The lever 69 is provided with a dual cam surface, including an upper portion 72 which is concentric with the axis 67 and a lower portion 73 which slopes outwardly. The cam surfaces are adapted to engage a roller 74 carried by the lower link 63 and are urged against the roller by a tension spring 75 connected between the upper end of the cam lever and one side of the housing. The angle of the cam surface 73 is so chosen relative to the strength of the spring 75 that when the roller 74 is in engagement with this cam surface, there will be a sufficiently powerful downward tension to overcome substantially completely the spring 65 and to hold the supporting rod in its lowered position so that the full weight of the iron will be effective in ironing material on the board. Thus the cam lever and roller constitute a latch mechanism for holding the supporting rod in its lowered position and gagement with the cam surface 73. When this occurs, the latch lever '69 will swing clockwise, as seen in Fig-' ures 12 and 13, to exert a downward pressure on the roller 74 holding the supporting rod in its lowered position with the iron on the material on the board. At the same time, the arm 83'will engage the pin 84 to swing the operating lever 81 downward and close the switch 82. However, since the switch 45 has been opened at this time by engagement of the operators hand with the lever 44, the motor will not be energized.

At completion of an ironing operation when the operator releases the iron handle and the lever 44, the switch 45 will close and the motor 76 will be energized through the switches 45 and 82. As the motor starts to turn, the cam 77 will engage the roller 79 to swing the latch lever 69 counter-clockwise away from the roller 74 and at the same time the arm 83 will move away from the pin 84 to allow the switch 82 to open. However, by the time this occurs the cam 78 will have moved to a position to hold the operating lever 81 depressed thereby to hold the switch 82 closed until the motor has moved through a complete cycle.

As soon as the latch lever is moved away from the roller 74 the latch will be released and the spring 65 will elevate the supporting rod 58 to raise the iron above the ironing board. By the time the cam 77 has released the roller 79, the roller 74 will be in engagement with the arcuate surface 72 of the cam lever and the parts will occupy the position shown in Figure 13, ready for a further ironing operation.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be understood that it is illustrative only and not to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Ironing apparatus comprising a housing, a pair of upright supporting frames, linkages including generally parallel links pivotally connected to opposite sides of the housing and to the frames respectively at vertically spaced points and connecting the supporting frames to opposite sides of the housing for generally parallel movement toward and away from the housing and to support the housing from the frames, an ironing board formed of two end to end sections hinged together intermediate the length of the board, and means connecting one of the sections adjacent to the hinge connection between the sections to one of the supporting frames to move the hinge connection downward between the supporting frames thereby to fold the sections to a vertical stored position between the frames when the frames are moved toward the housing and to move the hinge connection upward thereby to elevate the sections to a horizontal position above the supporting frames when they are moved away from the housing.

2. Ironing apparatus comprising a housing, a pair of upright supporting frames, linkages including generally parallel links pivotally connected to the housing and the frames and connecting the supporting frames to opposite sides of the housing for generally parallel movement toward and away from the housing and to support the housing from the frames, an ironing board formed of two sections hinged together intermediate the length of the board, means connecting one of the sections to one of the supporting frames to fold the sections to a vertical stored position between the frames when the frames are moved toward the housing and to elevate the'sections to a horizontal position above the supporting frames when they are moved away from the housing, an iron support carried by the housing, linkage pivoted on the support to carry an iron for horizontal movement above the ironing board, and latch means connecting the linkage to the support and releasable for folding the linkage and an iron carried thereby to a stored position between the supporting frames when they are adjacent to the housing.

3. The ironing apparatus of claim 2 including means in the housing mounting the support for vertical movement, a spring in the housing urging the support upward, latch means in the housing to hold the support in lowered position, electrical means in the housing to release the latch means, and control means for the electrical means including a switch on the iron.

4. Ironing apparatus comprising a housing, a pair of upright supporting frames, linkages including generally parallel links pivotally connected to the housing and the frames and connecting the supporting frames to opposite sides of the housing for generally parallel movement toward and away from the housing and to support the housing from the frames, means connecting the linkages to cause simultaneous movement of the supporting frames, an ironing board formed of two sections hinged together intermediate the length of the board, an arm pivoted on one of the supporting frames and connected to one of the sections, and a connection between one of the linkages and the arm to move the sections to a vertical folded position between the frames when the frames are moved toward the housing and to a horizontal position above the frames when the frames are moved away from the housing.

5. The ironing apparatus of claim 4 including parts on said one section and said one supporting frame to interengage when the section is in a horizontal position to assist the arm in supporting the section.

6. The ironing apparatus of claim 4 in which the two sections of the board are hinged together by links pivotally connected at their ends to the sections on axes spaced from the ends of the sections whereby the board can be folded with a cover thereon without pinching the cover, and parts on the links engagea'le with the ends of the sections to limit relative pivotal movement of the sections in one direction to alignment of the sections.

7. Ironing apparatus comprising a housing, a pair of upright supporting frames, apair of vertically spaced parallel links pivotally connected to each side of the housingand to the supporting frames respectively, a pair of meshing gear segments in the housing connected respectively to one link of each pair to cause simultaneous movement of the links and frames, a latch member in the housing engageable with the segments to latch them in a position with the housing elevated. and the frames spaced therefrom, and an ironing board carried by one of the'fra'mes'.

8. Ironing apparatus comprising a housing, a pair of upright supporting frames, a pair of vertically spaced parallel links pivotally connected to each side of the housing and to the supporting frames respectively, a pair of meshing gear segments in the housing connected respectively to one link of each pair to cause simultaneous movement of the links and frames, a latch member in the housing engageable with the segments to latch them in a position with the housing elevated and the frames spaced therefrom, an ironing board formed of two sections hingedly connected centrally of the length of the board, an arm pivoted on one of the frames and connected to one of the sections, and a connection between the arm and one of the links to move the sections to a vertical folded position between the frames when the frames are moved toward the housing and to a horizontal position above the frames when the frames are moved away from the housing. a

9. Ironing apparatus comprising a housing, a pair 0 upright supporting frames, a pair of vertically spaced parallel links pivotally connected to each side of the housing and to the supporting frames respectively, a pair of meshing gear segments in the housing connected respectively to one link of each pair to cause simultaneous movement of the links and frames, a latch member in the housing engageable with the segments to latch them in a position with the housing elevated and the frames spaced therefrom, an ironing board formed of two sections hiugedly connected centrally of the length of the board, an arm pivoted on one of the frames and connected to one of the sections, a connection between the arm and one of the links to move the sections to a vertical folded position between the frames when the frames are moved toward the housing and to a horizontal position above the frames when the frames are moved away from the housing, an iron support mounted in the housing, linkage pivoted on the support to carry an iron for horizontal movement over the ironing board, and a latch including cooperating parts on the support and the linkage for connecting the linkage to the support and releasable for folding the linkage to a stored position between the frames.

10. The ironing apparatus of claim 9 in which the linkage comprises a first link pivoted to the support on a horizontal axis, a second link pivoted to the free end of the first link on a horizontal axis, and means to guide the free end of the second link in a horizontal plane including a cam pivoted to the support about the same axis as the first link, and the latch engages the cam to hold it against movement about said axis.

11. In an ironing apparatus, an iron support, a first link pivoted on the support on a horizontal axis, a second link pivoted to the free end of the first link on a horizontal axis, means to guide the free end of the second link in a horizontal plane as the links swing about their pivots including a cam pivoted on the support coaxially with the first link, and a latch engageable with the cam to hold it against movement about its pivotal mounting on the support, both links and the cam being freely pivotal on the support when the latch is released.

12. Ironing apparatus comprising a housing, a pair of upright supporting frames, a pair of vertically spaced parallel links pivotally connected to each side of the housing and to'the supporting frames respectively, a pair of meshing gear segments in the housing connected respectively to one link of each pair to cause simultaneous movement of the links and frames, a latch member in the housing engageable with the segments to latch them in a position with the housing elevated and the frames spaced'therefrom, an ironing board formed of two sections hingedly connected centrally of the length of the board, an arm pivoted on one of the frames and connected to one of the sections, a connection between the arm and one of the links to move the sections to a vertical folded position between the frames when the frames are moved toward the housing and to a horizontal position above the frames when the frames are moved away from the housing, an iron support mounted in the housing, linkage pivoted on the support to carry an iron for horizontal movement over the ironing board, a latch including cooperating parts on the support and the linkage for connecting the linkage to the support and releasable for folding the linkage to a stored position between the frames, means mounting the support in the housing for vertical movement, a spring urging the support upward, latch means in the housing to hold the support in lowered position with the iron on material on the board, electric motor means operable when energized to release the latch means, and control means for the electric motor means including a switch carried by the iron.

13. In an ironing apparatus, a housing, a support extending vertically into the housing, linkage carried by the support to carry an iron for movement in a horizontal plane, parallel links pivoted in the housing and to the support mounting the support for vertical movement in the housing, a spring in the housing urging the support upward therein, a latch follower member carried by one of the links, a latch lever pivoted on a fixed axis in the housing and having a latching cam surface facing and engageable with the follower, a spring connected to the latch lever urging the cam surface thereof into engagement with the follower, a rotary electric motor in the housing, a cam driven by the motor engageable with the latch lever to move it away from the follower, a control circuit for the motor including a first switch carried by the iron and a second switch in the housing, means carried by the latch lever to control the second switch, and a second cam [driven by the motor to control the second switch.

10 14. In an ironing apparatus, a housing, a support extending vertically into the housing, linkage carried by the support to carry an iron for movement in a horizontal plane, parallel pivoted in the housing and to the support mounting the support for vertical movement in the housing, a spring in the housing urging the support upward therein, a latch follower member carried by one of the links, a latch lever pivoted on a fixed axis in the housing and having a latching cam surface facing and engageable with the follower, a spring connected to the latch lever urging the cam surface thereof into engagement with the follower, a cam surface including an upper portion arcuately curved about the pivotal axis of said one of the links and a lower portion at an angle to exert a downward force on the follower, .a rotary electric motor in the housing, a cam driven by the motor engageable with the latch lever to move it away from the follower, a control circuit for the motor including a first switch on the iron and a second switch in the housing, a part on the latch lever engageable with the second switch to close it when the follower is in engagement with the lower cam surface, and a second earn driven. by the motor to hold the second switch closed until the motor has completed a full cycle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,209,194 Deutsch July 23, 1940 2,516,235 Morgan July 25, 1950 2,647,333 Olshefski Aug. 4, 1953 2,648,146 Foster Aug. 11, 1953 2,661,553 Foster Dec. 8, 1953 2,680,311 Foster June 8, 1954 2,799,100 Prick July 16, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 750,580 France May 29, 1933 

